Potassium hexa and octatitanate fibers have been proposed as reinforcement for friction
materials. The aim of this work was to establish a calcination route to produce these fibers, using
commercial anatase and potassium carbonate powders. These powders were dry mixed with
TiO2/K2O molar ratio, n, of 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0, and then calcined at 950, 1050, and 1150°C for 3 h.
Calcined powders were milled, washed in warm water with different pHs, and heat treated to
crystallize the fibers. The best conditions to growth long fibers were n=3.0 and 1050°C, in the twofase
field (liquid + K2Ti4O9). Controlled ion-exchange with water removed K+ ions from K2Ti4O9
fibers resulting in potassium hexa or octatitanate fibers after the second heat-treatment. Fibers with
sub-micrometer thickness (~0.6 μm) and average length of ~20 μm could be prepared.